FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to sell stakes in the governing body’s flagship competitions after facing fierce opposition from football associations around the world.
The proposal would have allowed private investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. In return, FIFA offered each of its 211 member associations up to $40 million (£30 million) if they supported the initiative.
However, the plan quickly sparked a global backlash, with several football confederations warning that it threatened the integrity and future of the sport.
Announcing the decision, Infantino admitted the proposal had become too divisive.
“It has become clear that this project has created divisions that are no longer in the interest of its original objective,” he said.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The proposal faced its strongest resistance from UEFA, which warned it would boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the plan moved forward.Concacaf, the governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) later joined UEFA and Concacaf in opposing the plan, effectively leaving it without enough support to succeed.
The controversy also triggered turmoil within FIFA’s leadership.
Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the organisation’s own administration had been “deceived” about the project.
Meanwhile, Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned in protest, describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
Political Leaders Weigh In
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Infantino as “the wrong man” to lead FIFA, adding to growing criticism of the organisation’s governance.
The failed proposal now leaves Infantino under increased pressure ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March, where he is seeking a fourth term in office.
Despite the setback, the FIFA president insisted the organisation remains committed to unity.
“Our purpose has always been and will always be to unite and improve,” Infantino said.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game.”
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal. Further stating that football’s future should be determined through proper consultation and respect for established governance structures.
The decision brings an end to one of the most controversial proposals in FIFA’s recent history. It also preserves the World Cup’s traditional ownership structure. For now at least.
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